elections work[1]

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WDW 2008 Connor , Dylan, Anthony , Brittany , Apark  Election D/A 1/111 1NC-Obama Good Shell 3 1NC-Obama Good Shell 4 1NC-Obama Good Shell 5 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-National Polling 6 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Economy 7 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-McCain’s Age 8 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now- Women 9 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Latinos 10 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-African Americans 11 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Iowa 12 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Colorado 13 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-New Jersey 14 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now- Wisconsin 15 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Missouri 16 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Michigan 17 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Minnesota 18 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Ohio 19 Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-A2: Swing States 20 Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-National Polls 21 Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Independents 22 Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-War on Terrorism 23 Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Obama Loses V oters 24 Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Missouri 25 Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development 26 Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development 27 Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development 28 Links-Public Supports Wind Development 29 Links-Public Supports Nuclear Development 30 Links-Public Supports Ethanol Development 31 Links-Public Supports Ethanol Development 32 Links-Public Supports Solar Development 33 Links-Public Supports Solar Development 34 Links-Public Supports PT Cs 35 Links-Public Supports Hydrogen Car Development 36 Links-Public Supports RPS 37 Internal Links- Bush Key to Election 38 Internal Links- Bush Key to Election 39 Internal Links- Bush Key to Election 40 Internal Links- Bush Key to Election 41 Internal Links- Bush Key to Election 42 Internal Links- Bush Key to Election 43 2NC/1NR Link Module-Ohio 44 Ohio Exts. 45 2NC/1NR Link Module-Florida 46 Florida Exts. 47 2NC/1NR Link Module-Pennsylvania 48 Pennsylvania Exts. 49 2NC/1NR Link Module- Virginia 50 2NC/1NR Link Module-Missouri 51 2NC/1NR Link Module-Michigan 52 Link-Women Like Plan 53 Internal Link- Women Key to Election 54 Internal Link- Women Key to Election 55 Internal Link-Latinos Key to Election 56 Internal Link-Latinos Key to Election 57 Internal Link- Jewish Vote Key to Election 58 Internal Link- Jewish Vote Key to Election 59 Link-Evangelicals Like Plan 60 Internal Link-Evangelicals Key to Election 61 Link- Y outh Like the Plan 62

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  • 8/14/2019 Elections Work[1]

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    Election D/A 1/11NC-Obama Good Shell 31NC-Obama Good Shell 41NC-Obama Good Shell 5Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-National Polling 6Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Economy 7Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-McCains Age 8Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Women 9

    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Latinos 10Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-African Americans 11Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Iowa 12Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Colorado 13Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-New Jersey 14Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Wisconsin 15Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Missouri 16Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Michigan 17Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Minnesota 18Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Ohio 19Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-A2: Swing States 20Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-National Polls 21Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Independents 22

    Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-War on Terrorism 23Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Obama Loses Voters 24Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Missouri 25Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development 26Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development 27Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development 28Links-Public Supports Wind Development 29Links-Public Supports Nuclear Development 30Links-Public Supports Ethanol Development 31Links-Public Supports Ethanol Development 32Links-Public Supports Solar Development 33Links-Public Supports Solar Development 34Links-Public Supports PTCs 35

    Links-Public Supports Hydrogen Car Development 36Links-Public Supports RPS 37Internal Links-Bush Key to Election 38Internal Links-Bush Key to Election 39Internal Links-Bush Key to Election 40Internal Links-Bush Key to Election 41Internal Links-Bush Key to Election 42Internal Links-Bush Key to Election 432NC/1NR Link Module-Ohio 44Ohio Exts. 452NC/1NR Link Module-Florida 46Florida Exts. 472NC/1NR Link Module-Pennsylvania 48

    Pennsylvania Exts. 492NC/1NR Link Module-Virginia 502NC/1NR Link Module-Missouri 512NC/1NR Link Module-Michigan 52Link-Women Like Plan 53Internal Link-Women Key to Election 54Internal Link-Women Key to Election 55Internal Link-Latinos Key to Election 56Internal Link-Latinos Key to Election 57Internal Link-Jewish Vote Key to Election 58Internal Link-Jewish Vote Key to Election 59Link-Evangelicals Like Plan 60Internal Link-Evangelicals Key to Election 61Link-Youth Like the Plan 62

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    Election D/A 2/1Internal Link-Youth Key to Election 63Internal Link-Youth Key to Election 64Internal Link-Libertarians Key to Election 65Obama Good-Oil Prices 66Obama Good-Space Weapons 67Obama Good-Space Weapons Exts. 68Obama Good-NMD 69

    Obama Good-NMD Exts. 70Obama Good-CTBT 71Obama Good-Space Exploration 72Obama Good-Leadership 73Obama Good-Leadership Exts. 74Obama Good-Leadership Exts. 75Obama Good-Iraq Withdraw 76Obama Good-Iraq Withdraw 77Obama Good-Iraq Withdraw Exts. 78Obama Good-Bush Tax Cuts 79Obama Good-Bush Tax Cuts 80Obama Good-Bush Tax Cuts Exts. 81Obama Good-Hair Trigger Nuclear Weapons 82

    Obama Good-Iran Strikes 83Obama Bad-Bush Tax Cuts 84Obama Bad-Bush Tax Cuts 85Obama Bad-Protectionism 86Obama Bad-Protectionism Exts. 87Obama Bad-Iraq Withdraw 88Obama Bad-Space Weapons 89Obama Bad-NMD 90

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    Election D/A 3/1

    1NC Obama Good Shell

    A. Uniqueness- Obama will win now, African American, Women and Youth voters, but it will becloseQuinnipiac 7/15 (2008, "Women, Blacks Give Obama 9-point Lead Over McCain",

    http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1192)With commanding leads among women and young voters and near unanimous support from black voters,Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has a 50 41 percent lead over Arizona Sen. John McCain, according to aQuinnipiac University national poll of likely voters released today. Independent voters split 44 44 percent,the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Sen. McCain has a slight 47 44 percentedge among men voters and a larger 49 42 percent lead among white voters. But black voters backSen. Obama 94 1 percent, while women support him 55 36 percent. Obama leads 63 31 percent amongvoters 18 to 34 years old and 48 44 percent among voters 35 to 54, while voters over 55 split with 45percent for McCain and 44 percent for Obama. The Democrat gets 44 percent to the Republicans 47 percein red states, which went Republican by more than 5 percent in 2004, and leads 50 39 percent in purple orswing states. Sen. Barack Obamas national lead is solid but its not monolithic, said Maurice Carroll,director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. His support in the black community is about as close unanimous as you can get. Politicians say that the only uncertainty will be turnout. Sen. John McCain leads

    among white voters. As is usually the case, the outcome probably will be decided in the middle, among thindependent voters, who are evenly split at this point. About one-fifth of those who voted for New York SenHillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries decline so far, anyway to come home to their party. By a 55 29 percent margin, likely voters nationwide have a favorable opinion of Obama. McCain gets a 50 31percent favorability.

    http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1192http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1192
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    1NC Obama Good Shell

    B. Links:

    1. Bushs low popularity assures McCain will lose now-only a shift in policy course can

    propel the GOP to victory in 2008Hugick 07 (Larry Hugick, Larry Hugick is chairman of Princeton Survey Research Associates International inPrinceton, New Jersey, The Political Fallout: Bush, Iraq, and the GOP,www.publicopinionpros.com/features/2007/sep/hugick.asp)George W. Bush is barred from seeking a third term, and his vice president is also not a candidate in the 200presidential race. But the impact of growing public discontent with the situation in Iraq and Bushs record lowapproval ratings casts a long shadow over the Republicans ability to keep the White House in 2008, afterhaving already lost control of both houses of Congress in the 2006 midterm elections. In all three previouscases where a president scored an approval rating below 30 percent on more than one occasion, his partywas soundly defeated in the next major election. Jimmy Carter, who had first to fend off a challenge by TedKennedy for his partys 1980 presidential nomination, ultimately got only 41 percent of the popular vote inlosing his bid for reelection to Ronald Reagan. After Richard Nixons resignation in the summer of 1974removed him from the national stage, the GOP nonetheless lost forty-eight house seats in the fall

    congressional elections, allowing the Democrats to control two-thirds of house seats. In the 1952 presidentiaelection, with the Korean conflict in a stalemate and Trumans ratings consistently below 30 percent,Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson was defeated in a landslide, winning just 89 electoral votes toRepublican Dwight Eisenhowers 442. An incumbent president is always viewed as the leader of his party anhas a major influence on the way it is perceived. Peoples party identification tends to be relatively stable, buwhen a president is highly unpopular for an extended period of time, his partys image can suffer as well. Asseen in Table 2, based on Newsweek poll party ID averages, the proportion of Americans who call themselveRepublicans dropped significantly between George W. Bushs first year in office and the current year. In 200130 percent of Americans identified as Republican. Preliminary figures for 2007 put the number of self-identified Republicans at 25 percent, a drop of five percentage points. Since Princeton Survey ResearchAssociates began conducting the Newsweek poll in 1993, there have been fifty-seven quarters for whichsufficient data were available to compute a party ID average. The first two quarters of 2007 are the only twoin which GOP identification has averaged below 26 percent.

    2. There is massive public support for alternative energy developmentRuy Teixeira, Senior Fellow The Century Foundation and American Progress, Fellow New Politics Institute, aVisiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, 2007 What the Public Really Wants on Energy and theEnvironment http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/03/wtprw.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcEnergy issues are increasingly environmental issues and vice-versa. Global warming is most obviously anenvironmental problem, yet it is rooted in energy consumption patterns and can only be addressed throughnew energy policies. Achieving independence from Middle East oil controlled by unsavory regimes is perhapsour foremost energy issue, but that can only be accomplished by ramping up domestic energy production,which raises a host of difficult environmental issues. In short, its going to be difficult to make progress in onarea without dealing seriously with the other. That might sound daunting, but fortunately public opinion pollsshow that Americans are aware of this close linkage and favor a package of steps that might lead to realprogress on both fronts. In the next several years, we shall see if policymakers have the courage to go down

    the road the public clearly wishes them to take. By and large, the American public is unenthusiastic aboutexpanding production from conventional energy sources in the U.S., tending to favor conservation andprotecting the environment over such expansion. In a February, 2006 Pew Research Center poll, for example52 percent favored more energy conservation and regulation on energy use and prices as the moreimportant priority for U.S. energy policy over expanding exploration, mining and drilling, and theconstruction of new power plants, which found support among 41 percent of those polled by Pew. That samquestion has elicited a comparable response in Pew surveys going back to 2001. Similarly, in a March, 2006Gallup question, 49 percent thought protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the riskof limiting the amount of energy supplies such as oil, gas and coal which the United States produces . Forty-two percent thought that the development of U.S. energy supplies such as oil, gas and coal should be givenpriority, even if the environment suffers to some extent. Gallup has asked that question since 2001, with asimilar (in fact, usually stronger) pro-environment response. But attitudes are more positive toward proposalthat would actively promote energy conservation and the development of alternative energy sources. In the

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    Election D/A 5/1February, 2006 Pew poll where 85 percent agreed that America was addicted to oil, the public stronglysupported the following proposals to address Americas energy supply: requiring better auto fuel efficiency(86 percent for/12 percent against); increasing federal funding for research on wind, solar and hydrogentechnology (82/14); tax cuts for companies to develop these alternative energy sources (78/18); spendingmore on subway, rail and bus systems (68/27); and increasing federal funding for research on ethanol(67/22).

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    1NC Obama Good Shell

    C. Impacts

    1. Obama is key to global nuclear disarmament-McCain will launch pre-emptive nuclear

    strikes, drawing in RussiaDavid Krieger, president of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, 7/9 (2008, Miller-McCune, "McCain vs. ObamGoes Nuclear", http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/511)Between the two candidates, McCain's positions seem more cautious and sketchy. He has defined the goal a"distant." He has also used language that could leave open the door to developing new nuclear weapons, ifthey meet certain criteria. A most serious obstacle to McCain achieving progress is his strong support formissile defenses, which have led the Russians to consider backtracking on nuclear disarmament by, forexample, bolstering its offensive nuclear capabilities and pulling out of the Intermediate Nuclear ForcesTreaty. Further, McCain has stated that it is "nave to say that we will never use nuclear weapons," whichseems to suggest that he would not support ruling out first use. Obama has staked out a seemingly strongerposition on achieving the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world than has McCain. Obama has said that hewants to be the president who leads the way to a nuclear weapons-free world, although he, too, sees it as a"long road." He has come out in favor of removing U.S. nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert, not

    developing new nuclear weapons, ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, achieving a verifiable globalban on the production of new nuclear weapons material and making deep cuts in global nuclear arsenals. Heis also more cautious about nuclear energy, seeks to cut funds from unproven missile-defense systems andopposes the weaponization of space.

    2. ExtinctionUtgoff 2002 (Deputy Director of Strategy Institute for Defense Analysis, "Proliferation, Missile Defense andAmerican Ambitions", Summer, pg. 90)Escalation of violence is also basic human nature. Once the violence starts, retaliatory exchanges of violentacts can escalate to levels unimagined by the participants before hand. Intense and blinding anger is acommon response to fear or humiliation or abuse. And such anger can lead us to impose on our opponentswhatever levels of violence are readily accessible. In sum, widespread proliferation is likely to lead to anoccasional shoot-out with nuclear weapons, and that such shoot-outs will have a substantial probability of

    escalating to the maximum destruction possible with the weapons at hand. Unless nuclear proliferation isstopped, we are headed toward a world that will mirror the American Wild West of the late 1800s. With mostif not all, nations wearing nuclear six-shooters on their hips , the world may even be a more polite place thait is today, but every once in a while we will all gather on a hill to bury the bodies of dead cities or even wholnations.

    http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/511http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/511
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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-National Polling

    Obama will win now but the race is tighteningCBS NYT 7/15 (2008, "The Presidential Race: Midsummer", CBS NEWS NYT Poll,http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/CBSNews_polls/JUL08a-Campaign08.pdf)Democrat Barack Obama now holds a six-point edge over his Republican rival John McCain, leading 45% to39%. But more voters now than last month are undecided, and more than one in four who express acandidate choice could still change their minds. Both candidates have weaknesses: Voters are more likenow than a month ago to view Obama and McCain as pandering, and see both as shifting on issues in ordeto get elected. Obama now leads McCain 45% to 39% -- no different than the lead Obama held in earlyJune, as he was securing the delegate support necessary for the nomination. And this month, 12% of votersare undecided as to who they will vote for, double the 6% who said this in June.

    Obama will win now-the race is getting closer dailyRasmussen Reports 7/16 (2008, Rassmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll,http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidetial_tracking_poll)The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows Barack Obama attracting 45% of the vote whilJohn McCain earns 41%. When "leaners" are included, its Obama 48% and McCain 45% (see recent dailyresults). Other polling shows that, in a hypothetical match-up, Obama leads the current President by twentypercentage points while Hillary Clinton does a bit better than Obama against McCain. Tracking Polls arereleased at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time each day. New data released this morning shows thatgrowing numbersof Americans see the U.S. winning the War on Terror. Expectations of improvement in Iraq are up significantlyas well. Later today, Rasmussen Reports will release statewide polling data for the Presidential and Senateraces in Oregon and Kansas. Currently, McCain leads by a 60% to 26% margin among Evangelical Christiansand holds a very slight edge over Obama among other Protestant voters and Catholic voters. Obama holds athirty-five point advantage among all other voters. Most voters who attend Church at least weekly supportMcCain and most who rarely or never attend services prefer Obama (crosstabs available for PremiumMembers).

    Obama will win now-Electoral College calculatorRasmussen Reports 7/11 (2008, "Election 2008: Electoral College Update",http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_200

    _electoral_college_update)The Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator (see methodology below) shows Barack Obama leadingin states with 210 Electoral College votes while John McCain leads in states with 168 votes. When leaners areincluded, Obama leads 293-227. On Friday, July 11, Washington shifted from "Safe Democratic" to LikelyDemocatic." State-by-state rankings are summarized in the following table. This Balance of Power Calculatoaggregates data from a variety of sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state-by-state racefor the White House. Data inputs include the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in a state, an average of thelatest polling from other firms (the 538 Average), Rasmussen Markets data, Intrade market data, theaggregated rankings of selected analysts, the states voting history, and national trends. The weight given toeach variable will vary over time (i.e.polls will be counted more heavily in October than today, a stateshistory will be counted more heavily today than in October).

    Obama will win now-lead in poll of polls

    CNN 7/16 (2008, "Poll of polls update: Obama ahead by six", http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/) BarackObama holds a 6-point lead over John McCain in the latest CNN poll of polls. The new average of the fivemost recent national surveys of registered voters shows the Illinois senator at 47 percent with McCainstanding at 41 percent. About 12 percent say they are undecided. The margin between the two presidentialcandidates has remained remarkably consistent since the prolonged Democratic presidential race came to aend in early June. In a CNN poll of polls taken June 3, Obama and McCain were also separated by 6 points.The latest poll of polls includes recent surveys from Gallup, CBS/NY Times, ABC/Washington Post, Quinnipiac,and Newsweek.

    Obama is winning the key states in the polls.NickJuliano, journalist and election forecaster, 6/18/08Obama trumps McCain in FL, OH, PA: Poll http://rawstory.com/news08/2008/06/18/obama-trumps-mccain-in

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/general_election_match_up_historyhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/general_election_match_up_historyhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/obama_leads_bush_by_twenty_but_clinton_does_better_against_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/obama_leads_bush_by_twenty_but_clinton_does_better_against_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/war_on_terror/war_on_terror_updatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/war_on_terror/war_on_terror_updatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/war_on_terror/war_on_terror_updatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/political_tracking_crosstabs/july_2008/crosstabs_three_day_demographics_july_11_13_2008http://rasmussenreports.com/premium_service_descriptionhttp://rasmussenreports.com/premium_service_descriptionhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_presidential_race_state_by_state_snapshothttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/fivethirtyeight_com_averages_methodologyhttp://markets.rasmussenreports.com/http://partners.tradesports.com/adclick.php?zoneid=8465&bannerid=2http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/general_election_match_up_historyhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/general_election_match_up_historyhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/obama_leads_bush_by_twenty_but_clinton_does_better_against_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/obama_leads_bush_by_twenty_but_clinton_does_better_against_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/war_on_terror/war_on_terror_updatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/war_on_terror/war_on_terror_updatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/political_tracking_crosstabs/july_2008/crosstabs_three_day_demographics_july_11_13_2008http://rasmussenreports.com/premium_service_descriptionhttp://rasmussenreports.com/premium_service_descriptionhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_presidential_race_state_by_state_snapshothttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/about_us/fivethirtyeight_com_averages_methodologyhttp://markets.rasmussenreports.com/http://partners.tradesports.com/adclick.php?zoneid=8465&bannerid=2
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    Election D/A 8/1fl-oh-pa-poll/, accessed July 16, 2008//bcConcerns about Barack Obamas ability to compete in the key swing states that have decided the last severaelections are falling by the wayside, as a new poll Tuesday shows him ahead of Republican John McCain inFlorida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. With the nominating contest behind them, Democrats in the crucial swingstates seem to be coalescing around their eventual nominee. The Quinnipiac University poll shows Obamaahead of McCain in the three states for the first time in this contest. Florida: Obama edges McCain 47 - 43percent; Ohio: Obama tops McCain 48 - 42 percent; Pennsylvania: Obama leads McCain 52 - 40 percent. N

    president has won the White House without winning two of the three states since 1960. Concerns aboutwomen who supported Hillary Clinton abandoning the Democratic nominee in favor of McCain also appear tobe unfounded, according to the poll. Obama leads McCain by 10 to 23 percent among the poll of likely votersFinally getting Sen. Hillary Clinton out of the race has been a big boost for Sen. Barack Obama, Peter A.Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a news release. Brown warnsthat Obama is not yet out of the woods, but the poll results are a solid sign of his chances heading intosummer.

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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Economy

    Obama will win now-voters give Obama the edge on the economyJohn Whitesides, Political Correspondent, 7/16 (2008, Reuters, "Obama has 7-point edge on McCain: ReuterPoll", http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1535315320080716)Democrat Barack Obamahas a 7-point lead on RepublicanJohn McCain in the U.S. presidential race, andholds a small edge on the crucial question of who would best manage the economy, according to aReuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday. More than a month after kicking off the general electioncampaign, Obama leads McCain by 47 percent to 40 percent. That is slightly better than his 5-point cushion mid-June, shortly after he clinched the Democratic nomination fight against New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. BObama's 22-point advantage in June among independents, a critical voting bloc that could swing either way the November election, shrunk to 3 points during a month in which the candidates battled on the economyand Obama was accused of shifting to the center on several issues. Obama had a 44 percent to 40 percentedge nationally over McCain on who would be best at managing the economy, virtually unchanged from lastmonth. Among independents, the two were tied on the economy.

    http://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/barackobamahttp://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/barackobamahttp://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/johnmccainhttp://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/barackobamahttp://www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/johnmccain
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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-McCains Age

    McCains age factor could be a grave detractor; more so than Obamas race.

    Jon Cohen andJenniferAgiesta, Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday,June 22, 2008; 3 in 10 AmericansAdmit to Race Bias Page A01

    At the same time, there is an overwhelming public openness to the idea of electing an African American tothe presidency. In a Post-ABC News poll last month, nearly nine in 10 whites said they would be comfortablewith a black president. While fewer whites, about two-thirds, said they would be "entirely comfortable" with ithat was more than double the percentage of all adults who said they would be so at ease with someoneentering office for the first time at age 72, which McCain (R-Ariz.) would do should he prevail in November.Numerous polls, for example, have indicated that McCain's age may be a bigger detractor than Obama's racAnd more are now concerned that McCain will heed too closely the interests of large corporations than said sabout Obama and the interests of blacks.

    Obama will win now-McCains too oldMary Vallis 7/12 (2008, The National Post, "Is John McCain too old to be President?",http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=648861)Barack Obama lopes onto stages, plays hoops along the campaign trail, laughs easily and listens to rapperJay-Z. And then there is John McCain: Criticized for his stiff delivery from podiums, speaking with authority owar because he has lived it, so much so that he cannot brush his hair because his torture in Vietnam stillstops him from lifting his arms above his shoulders. And when he makes a pop culture reference, it is theBeach Boys' Barbara Ann. This is the difference a quarter of a century makes. Twenty-five years separatepresidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain - an entire generation of wars, presidents, worldevents and life experience. It is the widest age gap between the two parties' presidential nominees in U.S.history. Sexism and racism have already played profound roles in the presidential race, but age is creepingalong as a third "ism" that could yet affect the outcome. If elected, Mr. Obama would be 47 years old whenhe takes control of the country, almost as young as Bill Clinton and younger than George W. Bush. Mr. McCaion the other hand, would be 72, and the oldest president inaugurated for a first term. When pollstersrecently asked Americans to say the first words that popped into their heads to describe both presidentialcandidates, 20% said "outsider" or "change" for Mr. Obama. For Mr. McCain, one in five blurted out "old." Poalso show that voters are more concerned about Mr. McCain's age than Mr. Obama's race. A USA Today/Gallupoll conducted in mid-June, for example, found nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) said Mr. McCain's age

    could negatively affect his presidency. Only 8% of respondents, on the other hand, felt the same way aboutMr. Obama's race.

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    U niqueness-Obama Wins Now-Women

    OBAMA IS WINNING WOMEN VOTES.Gordon Trowbridge, July 9, 08http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080709/METRO/807090449. Michelle Obama courtswomen voters in Pontiac. Accessed 7/16/08.

    Polling data shows Obama winning the majority of female votes, as Democrats have for the last severalpresidential elections. But the campaign clearly hopes Michelle Obama's story -- the first member of herfamily to attend college -- speaks to both working-class women and more educated professionals. "I am aworking-class kid from a working-class community," she told the crowd. And while her father's income wasenough for her mother to remain home, she argued, most women no longer have that choice.

    http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080709/METRO/807090449http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080709/METRO/807090449
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    U niqueness-Obama Wins Now-Latinos

    OBAMA WINNING LATINO VOTES.Martin Sieff, July 11, 08http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/07/11/Analysis_Obama_winning_the_Hispanic_vote/UPI-76111215793419/. Obama winning the Hispanic vote. Accessed 7/16/08.Sens. Barack Obama andJohn McCain both courted America's 40 million-strong Hispanic community thisweek in their struggle for the White House, but Obama is clearly winning. Obama and McCain this week bothaddressed the 79th convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Last week McCain, R-Ariz.,took a high-profile trip to Mexico and Colombia to boost his credentials with Latin voters. He also is trying towoo middle-class Hispanics with a commitment to maintaining President George W. Bush 's tax cuts. HoweveObama, D-Ill., is succeeding where the Rev.Jesse Jackson failed 24 years ago in forging a genuine "RainbowCoalition" of black, white and Hispanic voters that could carry him into the White House. Even in his longprimary contest with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., he showed unexpected strength among younger Hispanicvoters, and now he is winning over older ones as well.

    http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/07/11/Analysis_Obama_winning_the_Hispanic_vote/UPI-76111215793419/http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/07/11/Analysis_Obama_winning_the_Hispanic_vote/UPI-76111215793419/http://www.upi.com/topic/John_McCain/http://www.upi.com/topic/George_Bush/http://www.upi.com/topic/Jesse_Jackson/http://www.upi.com/topic/Hillary_Clinton/http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/07/11/Analysis_Obama_winning_the_Hispanic_vote/UPI-76111215793419/http://www.upi.com/news/issueoftheday/2008/07/11/Analysis_Obama_winning_the_Hispanic_vote/UPI-76111215793419/http://www.upi.com/topic/John_McCain/http://www.upi.com/topic/George_Bush/http://www.upi.com/topic/Jesse_Jackson/http://www.upi.com/topic/Hillary_Clinton/
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    U niqueness-Obama Wins Now-African Americans

    OBAMA WINNING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTE.Chuck Raasch, July 13, 2008http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080713/NEWS07/807130548/1009/NEWS07. Obama facean uphill path toWhite House. Accessed 7/16/08.A Pew poll released Thursday showed Obama supporters were more than twice as likely to say they stronglysupported him than McCain's supporters were likely to say that of the Arizona senator. Blacks were slightlymore likely than whites to say they were very interested in the contest, and Obama was winning black voters90% to 3% over McCain, according to Pew's June 18-29 poll of 2,004 adults.

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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Iowa

    Obama will win now-Iowa-Key Republican stateRasmussen Reports 7/14 (2008, "Election 2008: Iowa Presidential Election",http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/elction_2008_iowa_presidential_election)Barack Obama has taken a double-digit lead over John McCain 48% to 38% in the latest Rasmussen Reportstelephone survey in Iowa. When leaners are included, the Democrat is ahead 51% to 41%. InJune, Obamaenjoyed a seven-point lead in the battleground state. That lead represented a push for Obama fromMay,when he was ahead by just 2 percentage points. McCain has held steady now at 38% for two months in a rowThe race is closer among voters not affiliated with either political party. Among those voters, Obama has a38% to 34% lead. In June, Obama had a much larger lead 44% to 29% lead among those voters. RasmussenMarkets shows that Democrats are currently given a 80.0 % chance of winning Iowas seven Electoral CollegVotes in November.George W. Bush carried Iowa by only 10,000 votes in 2004, having lost the state four yeaearlier to Al Gore by half that many. At the time this poll was released, Iowa was rated as Leans Democrat the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. As he does nationally, Obama continues to do muchbetter among women than men in Iowa. The Democrat has a commanding 52% to 34% lead among womenvoters in Iowa, but the two candidates are tied at 43% among men. Obama is viewed favorably by 59% ofIowa voters and unfavorably by 38%. McCains numbers are 56% favorable, 40% unfavorable.

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_obama_expands_lead_in_hawkeye_statehttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_obama_44_mccain_42http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_obama_44_mccain_42http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_obama_44_mccain_42http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/http://rasmussen.intrade.com/aav2/trading/contractInfo.jsp?conDetailID=68325http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_electoral_college_updatehttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_electoral_college_updatehttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_obama_expands_lead_in_hawkeye_statehttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/iowa/iowa_obama_44_mccain_42http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/http://rasmussen.intrade.com/aav2/trading/contractInfo.jsp?conDetailID=68325http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_electoral_college_update
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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Colorado

    Obama will win now-Colorado-Key Republican statePublic Policy Polling 7/14 (2008, "Obama leads in Colorado",http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_Colorado_714.pdf)Barack Obama has a four point lead in Colorado, according to the newest survey from Public Policy Polling.Obama has 47%, compared to John McCain 43%. The Hispanic vote is the key to Obamas success in thestate. The state has a small black population, and McCain leads 46-45 among white voters. Obamas leadcomes from a 58-34 advantage with the states growing Hispanic population. Theres good news forDemocrats in the US Senate race as well. Mark Udall leads Bob Schaffer 47-38 in the race to replace WaynAllard. Colorado is trending Democratic, said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. A keything to watch this fall will be what percentage of the states electorate Hispanics comprise. The higher thanumber is, the more likely it will be that Barack Obama is victorious.

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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-New Jersey

    Obama will win now-New Jersey-Key swing stateRassmussen Reports 7/9 (2008, "Election 2008: New Jersey Presidential Election",http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/new_jersey/eection_2008_new_jersey_presidential_election)The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of New Jersey voters, taken Monday night, shows Obamaahead of Republican candidate John McCain 44% to 39%. Last month,the Democratic hopeful had a 48% to39% lead over his GOP rival. Now 11% of voters describe themselves as undecided, up from 6% in early JunFive percent (5%) favor some other candidate. If leaners are included, Obama leads McCain by an evennarrower 47% to 44%. Leaners initially indicate no preference for either major candidate but indicate thatthey are leaning towards either McCain or Obama. Nationally, Obama continues to hold a modest lead overMcCain in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Voters perceive their priorities on Iraq arethe biggest difference between McCain and Obama. Other key stats on Election 2008 are continuouslyupdated at Obama McCain By the Numbers. While the Presidential race has tightened in the Garden State,incumbent Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg has a growing leadover Republican challenger DickZimmer. New Jersey voters clearly disagree with their other Senator, Robert Menendez, who is promoting abill to maintain the ban on offshore oil drilling. Sixty percent (60%) say such drilling should be allowed, and53% think it is likely to cause gasoline prices to go down. Last month Obamas then-growing lead was linkedin part to Hillary Clinton voters moving into his column. The June survey was conducted 24 hours after Obamhad reached the number of delegates needed to capture the Democratic presidential nomination. Women, akey voter bloc at play in the presidential campaign, continue to support the Democrat (52%) far more than hRepublican opponent (28%). Fifty-three percent (53%) of female voters voiced support for Obama a monthago, but McCain has fallen significantly from 34%. Those voters have moved into the undecided column.

    http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/new_jersey/new_jersey_obama_48_mccain_39http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/new_jersey/new_jersey_obama_48_mccain_39http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_pollhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/voters_see_iraq_as_biggest_difference_between_obama_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/voters_see_iraq_as_biggest_difference_between_obama_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/scoreboards/by_the_numbershttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_jersey/election_2008_new_jersey_senatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_jersey/election_2008_new_jersey_senatehttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/new_jersey/new_jersey_obama_48_mccain_39http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_pollhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/voters_see_iraq_as_biggest_difference_between_obama_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/voters_see_iraq_as_biggest_difference_between_obama_mccainhttp://rasmussenreports.com/scoreboards/by_the_numbershttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/new_jersey/election_2008_new_jersey_senate
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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Wisconsin

    Obama will win now-Wisconsin-Key swing stateRasmussen Reports 7/10 (2008, "Election 2008: Wisconsin Presidential Election",http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/wisconsn/election_2008_wisconsin_presidential_election)The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Wisconsin shows Barack Obama earning 50% of the votewhile John McCain attracts support from 39%. This is a big improvement for Obama who held a statisticallyinsignificant two point lead in the state a month ago.Last months poll was taken just before Hillary Clintondropped out of the race. When leaners are included in the current totals, its Obama 52% and McCain 42%Wisconsin neighbors Obamas home state of Illinois which may be helping the Democrat in this state that habeen agonizingly close in recent Presidential elections. Three other states along the nations northern borderand just west of Wisconsin are also showing surprising Democratic strength early in Election 2008. Obamaleads big inMinnesota,leads narrowly in Montana,and the two candidates are tied in North Dakota. Of thosfour states, Wisconsin and Minnesota have each voted for Democrats in recent elections, but by narrowermargins than current polling suggests. Montana and North Dakota are traditionally Republican states, at leasat the Presidential level. Nationally, Obama has a very modest lead over McCain in the Rasmussen Reportsdaily Presidential Tracking Poll. Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update(its free) letus keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news. In Wisconsin, Obama attracts support from 86%of Democrats and has a twelve point advantage among unaffiliated voters. Eighty-four percent (84%) ofRepublicans support McCain (see recent demographic highlights from national polling). Obama leads bytwenty-three points among women while McCain has a slight edge among male voters. Obama attracts amajority of the vote in all age groups under 65. McCain holds a six-point edge among senior citizens. OveralObama is viewed favorably by 61% of Wisconsin voters. Thats a five point improvement compared to amonth ago. McCain is viewed favorably by 57%, down three points.

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/wisconsin/election_2008_wisconsin_presidential_electionhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/minnesota/election_2008_minnesota_presidential_electionhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/minnesota/election_2008_minnesota_presidential_electionhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/montana/election_2008_montana_presidential_election2http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/montana/election_2008_montana_presidential_election2http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/north_dakota/election_2008_north_dakota_presidential_electionhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_pollhttp://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102135387545&p=oi%5Dhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/demographic_notes_2008_presidential_racehttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/wisconsin/election_2008_wisconsin_presidential_electionhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/minnesota/election_2008_minnesota_presidential_electionhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/montana/election_2008_montana_presidential_election2http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/north_dakota/election_2008_north_dakota_presidential_electionhttp://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_pollhttp://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102135387545&p=oi%5Dhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/demographic_notes_2008_presidential_race
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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Missouri

    Obama will win now-Missouri-Key swing stateJo Mannies 7/13 (STL Post Dispatch, "Obama leads McCain slightly in latest Missouri poll",http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/84EC6E3C5EAE4FF586257484000FDDED?OpnDocument)Missouri voters are frightened about the economy, hurting over high gas prices, disillusioned with the war inIraq and convinced the nation is headed in the wrong direction. Such a pessimistic view of the country isprompting many of them to turn to Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. That's the politicalpicture painted by the latest poll conducted for the Post-Dispatch and KMOV-TV (Channel 4) by Research2000, a Maryland-based polling firm. By significant margins, the 800 likely voters polled last week said theytrust the expected Democratic presidential nominee more than his Republican rival, John McCain, when itcomes to tackling many of the nation's domestic troubles. A majority gave higher marks to McCain only wheit comes to handling the war on terrorism. Pollster Del Ali says that backdrop largely explains why thosepolled slightly preferred Obama over McCain, 48 percent to 43 percent. The remaining 9 percent wereundecided.

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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Michigan

    Obama will win now-Michigan-Key swing state and representative of economic battleRasmussen Reports 7/14 (2008, "Election 2008: Michigan Presidential Election",http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michiga/election_2008_michigan_presidential_election)Barack Obama has more than doubled his lead over John McCain to eight percentage points in the economicbattleground state of Michigan, with much of his new support coming from voters who have moved away frothe Republican hopeful. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds 47% of Michigan votersfavoring Obama while 39% back McCain. A month ago Obama had 45% support and McCain tallied 42%.When leaners are factored in, Obama leads by the same margin of eight points, 50% to 42%. In MayMcCainhad a statistically insignificant one-point lead, but Obama has been gaining ground since Hillary Clintondropped out of the Democratic presidential race. McCain enjoys only a 46% to 41% lead over Obama amongmale voters now, down from a 19-percentage point lead in May. The Democrat shows a slight uptick amongwomen voters who have consistently supported him over McCain. Now women favor Obama 51% to 35%.While party regulars overwhelmingly support their respective candidates, Obama has turned it around withunaffiliated voters. Last month McCain had a five-point lead, down from 13 points a month earlier. NowObama leads among unaffiliated voters 42% to 35%. The Michigan survey, taken last Thursday night, camebefore the tightening of the race in Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Obama had enjoyed abounce in the polls after Clinton quit the race, but now he and McCain nationally are virtually tied. InMichigan, Obamas favorability rating also has gone up in the last month: He now is regarded favorably by60% of voters, up from 54% in early June. McCain is viewed favorably by 59% of Michigan voters, roughlywhere he was a month ago. But 35% also now have a Very Favorable opinion of Obama, up 5% from lastmonth. McCain remains at 18% in this category. The unfavorable ratings for both candidates remain largelyunchanged.

    http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michigan/michigan_mccain_45_obama_44http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_pollhttp://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michigan/michigan_mccain_45_obama_44http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Minnesota

    Obama will win now-Minnesota-Key swing stateRasmussen Reports 7/14 (2008, "Election 2008: Minnesota Presidential Election",http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/minnesta/election_2008_minnesota_presidential_election)Barack Obamas lead over John McCain in Minnesota has now grown to 18%, all at the expense of voters whohave moved out of the Republicans column, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.For the second month in a row, 52% back Obama, compared to 34% who now support McCain. But last montMcCain had the support of 39% of Minnesota voters. When leaners are factored in, Obama leads McCain by17% -- 54% to 37%. Obama has maintained a 13- to 15-point lead in four out of the previous five monthlypolls. The only exception came in mid-March soon after McCain wrapped up his partys nomination and thecontroversial remarks of Obamas pastor, Jeremiah Wright, were first reported -- when McCain was within foupoints of his Democratic opponent. While Obama and McCain maintain the support of more than eight out o10 members of their respective parties, both have lost ground among unaffiliated voters, 25% of whomremain undecided. Obama leads McCain 45% to 23% among the unaffiliated, but both are down 7% fromearly June.

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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-Ohio

    Obama will win Ohio because of focus on the rural areas.Plain Dealer Politics 7/14/08 Obama Recruiting local volunteers to focus on Rural Ohio voteshttp://www.cleveland.com/open/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/isope/1216024210113370.xml&coll=2&thispage1, accessed July 16, 2008//bc

    At the moment, Obama's campaign -- and its partner, the Ohio Democratic Party -- are more focused on ruraOhio than Kerry's campaign and the party were at this time four years ago, in part because they have moremoney and resources. The Obama campaign has divided the state into clusters of rural counties. Today, thecampaign will name Doug O'Brien to oversee the rural outreach program. O'Brien is not a stranger to ruralissues: He is taking leave from his job as assistant director of Ohio's Department of Agriculture. Thecampaign is also building an early presence in what it calls "micropolitans," small Democratic cities, such asMansfield, that sit in predominantly Republican counties.

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    Uniqueness-Obama Wins Now-A2: Swing States

    Obama will win even without the key states.MSNBC 6/26/08Obama sees possible win without Ohiom Florida http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25192261/, accessed July16, 2008//bc

    Plouffe and his aides are weighing where to contest, and where chances are too slim to marshal a large efforA win in Virginia (13 electoral votes) or Georgia (15 votes) could give Obama a shot if he, like Kerry, losesOhio or Florida.Plouffe also has been touting Obama's appeal in once Republican-leaning states where Democrats have madgains in recent gubernatorial and congressional races, such as Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana,Alaska and North Dakota. Obama's campaign has spent heavily on time and money in Virginia, where aDemocratic presidential candidate hasn't won since 1964. In recent elections, however, high-profileRepublicans have lost there. And in a sign of how serious Obama is taking the state, Plouffe dispatched toVirginia many aides who helped Obama stage his upset win in the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3.The key, Plouffe told supporters, will be to register new black voters and new young voters in Virginia.Likewise, Georgia has many unregistered black voters who could turn out in record numbers to support thefirst major-party nominee who is black, he argued. Plouffe said the campaign also will keep an eye onMississippi and Louisiana as the race moves into the fall to see if new black voters could put them within

    reach.

    Obama will win even if he loses all three traditional key swing states.NickJuliano, journalist and election forecaster, 6/18/08Obama trumps McCain in FL, OH, PA: Poll http://rawstory.com/news08/2008/06/18/obama-trumps-mccain-infl-oh-pa-poll/, accessed July 16, 2008//bcWhile the poll results should be heartening for Obama and his advisers, they are running a campaign thataims to expand the electoral playing field. With his impressive fundraising haul and deep campaigninfrastructure, Obama plans to deploy staff to all 50 states, and his campaign thinks it can win in placesDemocrats traditionally havent been competitive, like North Carolina, Virginia and Colorado. His campaignmanager has envisioned a path to victory that doesnt even need to include Florida and Ohio.

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    Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-National Polling

    McCain leading in the polls. Its game over for Obama.Public Policy Polling 7/15/08NC Polls: Stability is the new story http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2008/07/nc-polls-stability-is-newstory.html, accessed July 16, 2008//bc

    Not so for the general election. Survey USA came out with its newest round of polls today. In the Presidentialrace they show John McCain leading Barack Obama 50-45. Since the beginning of June five telephone pollshave been released for North Carolina- two by us, and one each from SUSA, Rasmussen, and Civitas. Everysingle one of them has shown McCain leading by 2-5 points.

    Obama is not winning now.FAIR 7/15/08Washington Post's McCain-Friendly Poll http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3575 accessed July 16, 2008//bThe Washington Post reported on July 15 that the public is evenly split between Republican John McCain andDemocrat Barack Obama's positions on ending the Iraq War. But the paper arrived at that conclusion basedon a deceptively worded poll question. Under the headline "Poll Finds Voters Split on Candidates' Iraq-PulloutPositions," the Post reported that their new poll "finds the country split down the middle between thosebacking Sen. Barack Obama's 16-month timeline for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and those agreeing

    with Sen. John McCain's position that events, not timetables, should dictate when forces come home."

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    Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Independents

    McCain will win now-Independents are moving his wayJohn Whitesides, Political Correspondent, 7/16 (2008, Reuters, "Obama has 7-point edge on McCain: ReuterPoll", http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1535315320080716) But Obama's 22-pointadvantage in June among independents, a critical voting bloc that could swing either way in the Novemberelection, shrunk to 3 points during a month in which the candidates battled on the economy and Obama wasaccused of shifting to the center on several issues. Obama had a 44 percent to 40 percent edge nationallyover McCain on who would be best at managing the economy, virtually unchanged from last month. Amongindependents, the two were tied on the economy. "There has been a real tightening up among independentand that has to be worrisome for Obama," pollster John Zogby said. "It doesn't seem like Obama is comingacross on the economy." The gap between the two major presidential contenders has narrowed to 5percentage points in New Jersey, as some of Barack Obamas support appears to have slipped off into theundecided column over the past month.

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    Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-War on Terrorism

    McCain Winsthe polls prove public perceives him to be more experienced.ABC News 7/15/08Obama leading McCain but Doubts Loomhttp://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=5378482&page=1 accessed July 16, 2008//bc

    Americans by a wide margin, 63-26 percent, pick McCain as more knowledgeable on world affairs, rate himmuch more highly in terms of readiness for the world stage and military leadership alike, and put him aheadof Obama by 50-41 percent in trust to handle "an unexpected major crisis."

    McCain will win because of terrorism.ABC News 7/15/08Obama leading McCain but Doubts Loomhttp://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=5378482&page=1 accessed July 16, 2008//bcGun control and "social issues such as abortion and gay civil unions" are toward the bottom, outranked by juone other issue: The candidates' choice of vice-presidential running mates, rated as "extremely important" bjust 15 percent.Obama has consistent leads among registered voters who rate each of these as extremely important, withtwo exceptions: They're even among those who rate social issues as extremely important, and among those

    who rate terrorism that important, McCain leads by 51-43 percent.McCain Wins because of stance on terrorism.AHN News 7/15/08Poll: McCain Continues to Trounce Obama on Terrorismhttp://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011615460, accessed July 16, 2008//bcSeventy-two percent of voters nationwide view McCain as the better candidate to fight terrorism, while 48%say Obama has good national security credentials. When voters were asked who they trusted more to handlethe war in Iraq regardless of who they officially supported, 47% chose McCain and 45% chose Obama.Thepresumptive Republican nominee's lead is despite other findings by the poll, such as 63% of voters saying"the war was not fighting for" and 60% saying that winning in Iraq is not necessary for the United States tosucceed in its overall fight against terrorism.

    Obama Will LoseForeign Policy.ABC News 7/15/08Obama leading McCain but Doubts Loomhttp://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Politics/story?id=5378482&page=1 accessed July 16, 2008//bcHoles in Barack Obama's foreign affairs resume are spurring doubt about his readiness for a crisis -- raisingthe stakes on his upcoming trip overseas and posing potential opportunity for his otherwise weakerRepublican opponent, John McCain. Obama continues to hold most of the advantages in the presidential racein enthusiasm, levels of partisanship, personal qualities and trust on top domestic issues, notably No. 1, theeconomy; and he's improved in the past month among swing voter groups.But Obama's experience gap vs. McCain shows up especially in global politics.

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    Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Obama Losses Voters

    Obama will loseFlip flopsGay Wire 7/14/08Obama Losing Ground http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?Section=70&ID=19603, accessed July 16,2008//bc

    According to a Newsweekpoll released over the weekend, Obama leads John McCain by a mere threepercentage points in a national head-to-head general election match up. Taking into account the statisticalmargin of error, that essentially means the two presidential contenders are locked in a virtual dead heat.The latest numbers could suggest a substantial dip in favor for Obama, who enjoyed a 15 percentage pointlead over McCain as recently as June 20 in a similar Newsweek poll. Some observers are now saying thatObama may have peaked too soon. The results of the latest Newsweek poll suggest that voters are upsetwith what has been perceived as Obamas flip-flopping in the last weeks, given his change of position on FISAlegislation, his decision to opt out of the campaign public-financing system, and his recent attempt to modifyhis strong pro-abortion positions.

    Obama will loseHillary voters break for McCain.Gay Wire 7/14/08Obama Losing Ground http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?Section=70&ID=19603, accessed July 16,

    2008//bcMost strongly affected by Obamas move to the center are former Hillary Clinton supporters, who account fo50% of the overall total of 53% of voters who believe that Obama has changed his position on key issues inorder to gain political advantage.Obama also seems to be losing the support of moderate and independent voters who now favor McCain overObama 41 percent to 34 percent, whereas in June, Obama led McCain among independent voters by ahealthy double-digit margin of 48 percent to 36 percent.The results of the Newsweek poll are supported by the latest Rasmussen daily presidential tracking poll whicshows Obama ahead of McCain by a slight margin of 44 percent to 42 percent after both candidates had beetied at 43 percent each for the two previous days.

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    Uniqueness-McCain Wins Now-Missouri

    McCain will win now-Missouri-key swing stateRasmussen Reports 7/9 (2008, "Election 2008: Missouri Presidential Election",http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/missouri/elecion_2008_missouri_presidential_election)The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Missouri shows John McCain attracting 47% of the votewhile Barack Obama earns 42%. A month ago, the candidates were essentially even. That survey wasconducted the night that Obama clinched the Democratic Presidential nomination. McCain had the advantagin earlier surveys. When leaners are included in the current survey, McCain leads Obama 50% to 45%.Leaners are survey participants who initially indicate no preference for either major candidate but indicatethat they are leaning towards either McCain or Obama. Including leaners, McCain is supported by 93% ofMissouri Republicans and enjoys a sixteen percentage point lead among unaffiliated voters. Last month,Obama had a slight advantage among the unaffiliateds and this month he is supported by 80% of DemocratsIndividual polls can sometimes overstate volatility in a race, especially when the results carry a four-and-a-half percentage point margin of sampling error. One way of addressing this is to look at a rolling-average ofthree consecutive polls. Using this approach, McCain leads Obama 45% to 42%. Last months three-pollaverage showed McCain up by six. McCain is currently viewed favorably by 58% of Missouri voters, Obamaby 50%. Those figures reflect a modest improvement for both candidates over the past month.

    http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/missouri/missouri_obama_43_mccain_42http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/missouri/missouri_obama_43_mccain_42http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/missouri/missouri_obama_43_mccain_42
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    Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development

    Massive public support for alternative energy developmentRuy Teixeira, Senior Fellow The Century Foundation and American Progress, Fellow New Politics Institute, aVisiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, 2007 What the Public Really Wants on Energy and the

    Environment http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/03/wtprw.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcEnergy issues are increasingly environmental issues and vice-versa. Global warming is most obviously anenvironmental problem, yet it is rooted in energy consumption patterns and can only be addressed throughnew energy policies. Achieving independence from Middle East oil controlled by unsavory regimes is perhapsour foremost energy issue, but that can only be accomplished by ramping up domestic energy production,which raises a host of difficult environmental issues. In short, its going to be difficult to make progress in onarea without dealing seriously with the other. That might sound daunting, but fortunately public opinion pollsshow that Americans are aware of this close linkage and favor a package of steps that might lead to realprogress on both fronts. In the next several years, we shall see if policymakers have the courage to go downthe road the public clearly wishes them to take. By and large, the American public is unenthusiastic aboutexpanding production from conventional energy sources in the U.S., tending to favor conservation andprotecting the environment over such expansion. In a February, 2006 Pew Research Center poll, for example52 percent favored more energy conservation and regulation on energy use and prices as the more

    important priority for U.S. energy policy over expanding exploration, mining and drilling, and theconstruction of new power plants, which found support among 41 percent of those polled by Pew. That samquestion has elicited a comparable response in Pew surveys going back to 2001. Similarly, in a March, 2006Gallup question, 49 percent thought protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the riskof limiting the amount of energy supplies such as oil, gas and coal which the United States produces . Forty-two percent thought that the development of U.S. energy supplies such as oil, gas and coal should be givenpriority, even if the environment suffers to some extent. Gallup has asked that question since 2001, with asimilar (in fact, usually stronger) pro-environment response. But attitudes are more positive toward proposalthat would actively promote energy conservation and the development of alternative energy sources. In theFebruary, 2006 Pew poll where 85 percent agreed that America was addicted to oil, the public stronglysupported the following proposals to address Americas energy supply: requiring better auto fuel efficiency(86 percent for/12 percent against); increasing federal funding for research on wind, solar and hydrogentechnology (82/14); tax cuts for companies to develop these alternative energy sources (78/18); spending

    more on subway, rail and bus systems (68/27); and increasing federal funding for research on ethanol(67/22).

    The public favors alternative energymultiple surveys prove.Ruy Teixeira, Senior Fellow The Century Foundation and American Progress, Fellow New Politics Institute, aVisiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, 2007 What the Public Really Wants on Energy and theEnvironment http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/03/wtprw.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcThe March, 2006 Gallup survey also documented these positive attitudes toward energy conservation and

    alternative energy sources. In that poll, the public overwhelmingly supported spending government money tdevelop alternative sources of fuel for automobiles (85 percent favor/14 percent oppose) and spending moregovernment money on developing solar and wind power (77/21). The Gallup poll also mirrored the findings othe Pew poll, finding that the public was markedly less enthusiastic about proposals such as expanding use onuclear energy (55 percent for/40 percent against) and opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil

    exploration (49 percent for /47 percent against). The publics especially strong interest in developingalternative energy sources is well-illustrated by a finding in a July, 2006 Los Angeles Times poll. The LAT pollasked respondents to choose the best way among a number of options for reducing U.S. reliance on foreignoil. More than half the respondents (52 percent) chose government investment in alternative energy sourcesway ahead of the next most popular option, relaxing environmental standards for oil and gas drilling (20percent), which was followed by requiring stricter mileage standards for cars (eight percent) and morenuclear power plants (six percent). Of course, much of the energy-related polling in the last couple of yearshas been on the issue of rising gas prices. When gas prices were peaking in 2005, 60 percent to 70 percent oAmericans in Gallup polling reported that the rise is gas prices had caused some financial hardship for theirfamilies; three-quarters said the rise in gas prices was making them angry. The primary focus of blame for thincreases was the big oil companies, followed by the Bush administration. In April of 2006, a Gallup pollfound the public willing to entertain a number of strong steps to deal with rising gas prices, including settingprices controls on gasoline (70 percent in favor), temporarily suspending all federal gasoline taxes (64

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    Election D/A 29/1percent), imposing an additional profits tax on oil companies (64 percent) and even breaking up the big oilcompanies (56 percent). Indeed, so strong was sentiment about gas prices that concern about energy costswas near the top of the publics most important problems in many polls in late 2005 and spring and summerof 2006.

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    Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development

    The public loves alternative energy.John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Progress, former Chief of Staff to PresidentClinton, 2007 Americans Urgently Want Action on Energy Independence and Global Warming,

    http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/environment_poll.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcAfter a year when public education and media coverage saturated classrooms, theaters, and televisionscreens and energy alternative advocacy permeated the Web, there is new evidence that points us not onlyto support for solutions but also toward new signs of the expediency with which Americans want their leaderin Congress to take this issue on. From Al Gore and Davis Guggenheims Oscar win for An Inconvenient Truthto the thousands who participated in Step It Up events last week in advocacy of carbon emissionsreductions and the Live Earth global warming concerts planned for July 7th on every continent, activistshave been joined now by other Americans who, as evidenced by a new poll, clearly believe that the issue ofenergy independence and global warming is one of the biggest priorities for our nations leaders. A poll forthe Center for American Progress conducted by GreenbergQuinlanRosner Research found that a majority ofAmericans look to Washington for meaningful and timely action. Among the most important findings:Americans want freedom and self sufficiency from our energy policies; Americans, in the tradition of our cando spirit, believe we should be leading the world in clean, alternative energy. If the political will exists, they

    believe we can do anything; Americans want accountability. They want their leaders to show they will do theright thing, put money to good use and act accordingly themselves; They see clean energy as a path toeconomic growth and new jobs; Democrats, Independents, and Republicans believe the evidence of globalwarming is now clear and only strengthens the case for immediate action on energy independence; and,Americans overwhelmingly support vigorous standards for clean alternative energy technologies and bettermileage. They also support a cap and reduction on global warming pollution. This public urgency is consistenwith the scientific urgency illustrated by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changereports that determined that human activity causes global warming and that climate change will put humansand our planet at real risk if left unchecked. In January, the House made a down payment on clean energyalternatives such as wind and solar energy by redirecting federal tax breaks and subsidies for big oilcompanies to investments in clean energy. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid havelaid the groundwork for what should be a bipartisan approach to addressing the public and scientific urgency meeting the challenge they have set for Congress is critical. The House is on a fast track to adopt solutions

    to these pressing problems and plans to consider additional pieces of the solution in July and this fall. TheSenate has now laid plans to debate clean alternative energy proposals in May. This new poll demonstratesthat legislators can support clean alternative energy and limits on global warming pollution with theconfidence that the American people will enthusiastically applaud such efforts. Conversely, the public willdisapprove of inaction or efforts that expand our reliance on conventional fuels or create more globalwarming pollution. As we approach Earth Day this Sunday, we urge you to enunciate support and swift,meaningful action to make America become self-sufficient in its energy use and create new jobs in theprocess. We should demand that our leaders show global leadership on this crucial issue, and we must holdthem accountable for making it happen. Scientists arent the only ones urging our leaders to take action onglobal warmingthe American public demands it, too.

    The American public is deeply dissatisfied with current energy policy. Alternativeenergies are wildly popular.

    John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Progress, former Chief of Staff to PresidentClinton, 2007 Americans Urgently Want Action on Energy Independence and Global Warming,http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/environment_poll.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcA new survey by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research for the Center for American Progress shows aheightened demand among Americans for immediate action to tackle global warming and achieve energyindependence. Most telling, Americans are demanding clean, alternative energy and they want theirleadership to act now to change our energy policies to put the country on the right path. The public wantsmajor change that quickly moves the country toward energy independence. Americans believe this will be aboon for the economy, will create jobs, and that America should lead the way. As this survey demonstrates,the public debate over whether global warming is here and whether it is caused by humans is settled.Americans now want immediate action. Americans are deeply dissatisfied with the current energy policiesand now believe America has fallen behind the rest of the world on energy. Concern about energy and globawarming now rivals health care as the top domestic issue that requires immediate action. Americans believe

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    Election D/A 31/1reducing dependence on oil and coal to stop global warming is one of the most important challenges ourcountry faces (29 percent) on par with bringing down rising health care costs (32 percent) and well ahead ofother issues.

    The public, regardless of party identification, wants a shift to alternative energy.John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Progress, former Chief of Staff to PresidentClinton, 2007 Americans Urgently Want Action on Energy Independence and Global Warming,

    http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/environment_poll.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcAmericans want immediate action on global warming. A solid majority, 60 percent, believes that theincreasing pollution of the past few decades has set global warming into motion and we must take actionnow or it will be too late to stop it. Only 33 percent hold that the effects will not occur for decades and wehave some time before we must take action to stop global warming. Americans of all politicalpersuasions want to act now to stop global warming and become energy independent. Unlike otheissues before Congress and the Presidentsuch as the Iraq warthere is no strong partisan divide onstopping global warming. Huge majorities of Independents (59 percent) and Democrats (76 percent) supportaction now along with a significant bloc of Republicans (41 percent).

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    Links-Public Supports Alternative Energy Development

    70% of Americans favor alternative energy developmentJohn Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Progress, former Chief of Staff to PresidentClinton, 2007 Americans Urgently Want Action on Energy Independence and Global Warming,

    http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/environment_poll.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcAmericans want action on energy and global warming and they believe our countrys current policies are offtrack. Only 27 percent of people feel that our energy policy is headed in the right direction, while 65 percentsay our energy policy is seriously off on the wrong track. Moreover, a majority of Americans (52 percent)believes the United States is either falling or has fallen far behind other countries in developing clean,alternative energy. Only 14 percent of people believe we lead the world in developing these technologies.With the public expressing grave concerns that energy independence and global warming are major problemthat face our country, Americans believe we need to act immediately to move toward clean alternativeenergy. Americans view alternative energy and more efficient cars not only as a means for energyindependence and reducing global warming, but also as economic boons. By a whopping 79 17 percentmargin, people believe that shifting to new, alternative energy production will help Americas economy andcreate jobs, not cost American jobs. By a 22-point margin, 57 35 percent, Americans believe raising car antruck mileage standards will save, not cost, people money.

    The plan has bipartisan popularity with the public.John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Progress, former Chief of Staff to PresidentClinton, 2007 Americans Urgently Want Action on Energy Independence and Global Warming,http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/environment_poll.html accessed July 14, 2008//bcMirroring recent public data on this issue, this survey shows strong public support for a series of proposals tomove to clean, alternative energy, institute higher mileage standards for automobiles, and cap carbonemissions from industry to tackle our dependence on oil and stop global warming. These proposals receivebipartisan support, highlighting the consensus around the nation that Washington should take action now toimprove our energy policy. This survey illustrates that support for these proposals is sufficiently robust towithstand attacks (the questions provided critiques of the proposals). Support for these proposals existsamong Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. For example, 60 percent of Republicans favor raisingmileage standards, nearly equaling the 67 percent of Democrats who do as well (74 percent of Independents

    favor this proposal). On making 25 percent of our electricity come from alternative sources by the year 202564 percent of Democrats favor the proposal, followed closely by 60 percent of Republicans (a staggering 71percent of Independents favor this approach).

    Across all demographic groups, regions, and political parties, there is overwhelmingsupport for alternative energy policy.Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, 2005Yale Poll Reveals Overwhelming Public Desire For New Energy Policy Directionhttp://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=4259 accessed July 14, 2008//bc (The survey was conducted onbehalf of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies by Global Strategy Group from May 15 to 22,2005. The survey was conducted using professional phone interviewers. The nationwide sample was drawnfrom a random digit dial (RDD) process. Respondents were screened on the basis of age, i.e., to be over theage of 18. The survey has an overall margin of error of 3.1% at the 95% confidence level. The survey

    questions and full results can be found at the website http://www.yale.edu/envirocenter for the Yale Center foEnvironmental Law and Policy.)A new Yale University research survey of 1,000 adults nationwide reveals that while Americans are deeplydivided on many issues, they overwhelmingly believe that the United States is too dependent on imported oThe survey shows a vast majority of the public also wants to see government action to develop new cleanenergy sources, including solar and wind power as well as hydrogen cars. 92% of Americans say that theyare worried about dependence on foreign oil. 93% of Americans want government to develop new energytechnologies and require auto industry to make cars and trucks that get better gas mileage. The resultsunderscore Americans deep concerns about the countrys current energy policies, particularly the nationsdependence on imported oil. Fully 92 percent say this dependence is a serious problem, while 68 percent sayit is a very serious problem. Across all regions of the country and every demographic group, there is broadsupport for a new emphasis on finding alternative energy sources. Building more solar power facilities isconsidered a good idea by 90 percent of the public; 87 percent support expanded wind farms; and 86

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    Election D/A 33/1percent want increased funding for renewable energy research. According to Gus Speth, dean of the YaleSchool of Forestry & Environmental Studies, This poll underscores the fact that Americans want not onlyenergy independence but also to find ways to break the linkage between energy use and environmentalharm, from local air pollution to global warming. Results of the poll indicate that 93 percent of Americans sarequiring the auto industry to make cars that get better gas mileage is a good idea. Just 6 percent say it is abad idea. This sentiment varies little by political leaning, with 96 percent of Democrats and Independents an86 percent of Republicans supporting the call for more fuelefficient vehicles.

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    Links-Public Supports Wind Development

    The public overwhelmingly supports wind energy developmentAWEA 2008 [American Wind Energy Association, Americans Overwhelmingly Support Federal Incentives forRenewable Energy: Zogby Poll, January 22,

    http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/poll_renewable_energy_012208.html]By a 7-1 margin, Americans agree that the federal government should extend incentives that encouragegreater use of renewable energy technologies, according to a national poll released today by the AmericanWind Energy Association (AWEA). 2007 was a record-breaking year for renewable electricity generation inthe United States, with almost 6,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy coming on line, infusingsome $20 billion in new investment into the economy. But the federal production tax credit (PTC) and taxincentives for other renewable energy sources are now in danger of lapsing at the end of this year. Thesurvey research firm Zogby International surveyed Americans on existing federal incentives for renewableenergy, in a poll commissioned by AWEA. The survey found that 85% of Americans agree with the statemenThe federal government should continue existing incentives to encourage greater use of renewable energtechnologies such as wind and solar power. Just 12% disagree. The results confirm that Americans, by anoverwhelming majority, want their government to support renewable energy, said AWEA Executive DirectorRandall Swisher. In 2007, tax incentives for renewable energy created tens of thousands of jobs for

    Americans. We call upon Congress to help sustain this remarkable growth by extending these incentives.

    The public loves the planEarth Times 2008 [April 25, Eight of 10 Americans Support Federal Incentives to Spur Growth of Carbon-FreEnergy Technology, http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/eight-of-10-americans-support,367788.shtml]Nearly 80 percent of Americans endorse the use offederal financial incentives to help promotedevelopment of carbon-free energy technologies, including new nuclear power plants, according to a newnational survey of 1,000 adults. The survey shows that 79 percent of Americans approve of providing taxcredits "as an incentive to companies to build solar, wind and advanced-design nuclear power plants." Only20 percent do not approve. The number of Americans "strongly approving" of tax credits exceeded thenumber of Americans "strongly disapproving" by the same four-to-one margin (37 percent vs. 9 percent).Support was nearly identical when Americans were asked about providing federal loan guarantees tocompanies that build solar, wind, advanced-design nuclear power plants "or other energy technology that

    reduces greenhouse gases to jump-start investment in these critical energy facilities." Seventy-seven percenof those surveyed approve, while only 22 percent do not approve.

    Polls show the public loves wind energy developmentGram, Dave, January 24, 2008([http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2008/01/24/state_poll_people_like_wind_power_not_nucear_waste/] People like wind power not nuclear waste Associated Press Writer)Among the findings of the surveys: strong support for wind and other forms of renewable energy, sharpdivisions about nuclear power with high concern about radioactive waste, and very high concern aboutgreenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.Respondents were asked, for example, to pick a number from 1 to 7, with 1 being "increasing efficiency" and7 being "buying/generating power." The average response among those attending the regional workshopswas 1.8, meaning strong support for efficiency over generating new power. The average response for the

    deliberative polling participants was 2.5.When asked about their level of concern about certain issues from 0 -- "not at all concerned" -- to 10 --"extremely concerned," participants gave greenhouse gases an average score of 8.5 in the regionalworkshops and 8.6 in the deliberative polling. Radioactive waste got scores of 8.1 and 7.8, respectively.Still another asked respondents to pick a number from 1 -- "strongly support" -- to 5 -- "strongly oppose" for"a wind farm visible from where you live." That scored a 1.6 average response in the regional workshops anda 1.4 in the deliberative polling.U.S. Public Opinion Survey Results on the Environment, Trade, and Campaign Finance Reform 2004([http://www.globalstewards.org/survey.htm])74% agree that "protecting the environment is so important that requirements and standards cannot be toohigh, and continuing environmental improvements must be made regardless of cost."79% favor "spending more government money on developing solar and wind power."77% favor "more strongly enforcing federal environmental regulations."

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    Election D/A 35/190% said foods created through genetic engineering processes should have special labels on them.77% believe the country should do 'whatever it takes' to protect the environment.81% favor "setting higher emissions and pollution standards for business and industry."

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